Blue Coats race for life

A group of 32 charity runners at Reading Blue Coat School have raised more than £1,000 for Cancer Research UK.

The 11th annual Blue Coat Race for Life was held at the school in Sonning on Wednesday, June 25.

A total of 19 staff, nine students and four other children took part in the race, which was won by sixth form student Poppy Martin, followed closely by Spanish teacher Richard Starr. Alex Smith, 13, from Checkendon, was third.

For the race, all the female runners wore pink while boys were allowed to choose their own colourful outfits, including a bright yellow Brazil football shirt. Every runner was also given a medal after completing the race.

The run was founded in 2003 by the school’s assistant network manager Wendy Cherry, who had suffered from breast cancer. Mrs Cherry wanted to raise money for Cancer Research UK and decided to hold a fundraiser at the school.